Trike driver nabbed with P156K worth of ‘shabu’

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A tricycle driver is the newest addition to drug-related offense violators arrested in Iloilo City.

Raclen Escobar, 37, a resident of Zone 4, Barangay Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City was collared in an anti-narcotics operation afternoon of July 14, 2021 at La Paz public plaza.

Escobar allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu worth P12,100 to a police undercover agent.

When members of the Molo Police Station frisked him, Escobar yielded four more sachets of suspected shabu.

Major Marlyn Roquero, Molo police chief, said that an asset tipped the police about Escobar’s alleged drug dealings.

They conducted a three-week surveillance before finally nailing the suspect.

Despite being caught red-handed, Escobar denied dabbling in the illegal drug trade.

He claimed that a certain Jojo, his friend who is presently incarcerated at a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility, called and allegedly asked him to meet a woman.

The woman who identified herself as Donna later called and met Escobar at a Palawan Pawnshop branch in LaPaz.

The woman initially wanted to meet at Barangay Ungka, Jaro district, but he declined.

Donna allegedly handed to Escobar what appeared to be medicine and gave him P200.

She also told him to give it to a man who would call him via his phone.

The man indeed called Escobar and they later met at La Paz plaza. The suspect then handed over the “medicine” placed inside a plastic bag.

The recipient later identified himself to be a cop and arrested Escobar.

Apart from denying that he was a drug pusher, Escobar claimed that he never used illegal drugs. Well, except for that one instance when a friend allegedly asked him to do drugs a few days ago.

He also challenged authorities to check with barangay officials if he was indeed into drug pushing.

Escobar is now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).